Physician Advocacy Since 1873
President’sMessage
Dear ECMS Members,
What an incredible way to kick off 2026! Our Board installation and member awards celebration at Bogey's Golf Suites in January set the perfect tone for what I know will be an exceptional year. One of the things that made it truly special was having so many of our past presidents in attendance. The passing of the gavel ceremony something new we've started was a profound moment for me. Standing there surrounded by the leaders who built this organization, receiving their support and wisdom as I stepped into this role, reminded me of the incredible legacy we're all part of To each past president who was there: thank you Your presence meant the world to me and our incoming Board.
We've already kept the momentum going with our February happy hour at South Market, and I'm energized by what's ahead. Mark your calendars for our membership meetings in March and September at the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown, plus engaging events throughout the year Check out our full calendar on escambiacms org/events it's your roadmap to staying connected
Speaking of advocacy we're strengthening ECMS's voice on multiple fronts. The FMA Annual Meeting is July 31-August 2 at the Hilton Orlando, where Florida's physician leaders shape policy and tackle critical healthcare issues. I encourage you to join ECMS's delegation there's real power in attending together Contact Laura at director@escambiacms org for details
YEARS
We're also launching a new Government Relations subcommittee to ensure ECMS effectively engages with local, state, and when needed, national government to support physicians and the practice of medicine. If you're interested in helping formulate ECMS's advocacy strategy and building these crucial relationships, please reach out to Laura.
I want to extend genuine gratitude to our 2026 sponsors both our incredible returning veteran partners and exciting new supporters ECMS couldn't be as successful without your support! And to my fellow Board members: thank you for dedicating your time and expertise to organized medicine. Taking time out of your schedules to participate in organized medicine is not unnoticed your service strengthens not just our society, but our entire medical community.
This year, we're focused on creating meaningful value for every member while amplifying physicians' voices in our region I'm committed to making ECMS a place where you feel connected, supported, and inspired.
Excited to see what 2026 holds for us!
Deanna Oleske, MD
2026 ECMS President
2026 ECMS Board
President
Deanna Oleske, MD
President Elect
T Alex Edgil, MD
Members at Large: Michelle Beasley, MD
Deborah Boland, DO Erin Mayfield, DO
Stephen Slobodian, MD Andres Candela, MD
Anthony G. Pietroniro, MD
ECMS Bulletin
The Bulletin is a publication for and by the members of the Escambia County Medical Society. The Bulletin publishes quarterly with a printed version in December
Mission:
Advancing physicians’ practice of medicine in our community.
Views and opinions expressed in the Bulletin are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the board of directors, staff or advertisers. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit or reject any submission.
Editors:
T Alex Edgil, MD
Laura Griffin
www escambiacms org
When traditional treatments failed to control her hypertension, Kathy turned to renal denervation, a minimally invasive option offered by Dr. Rohit Amin at Ascension Sacred Heart in Pensacola
At 66, Kathy’s heart health journey was already complex She had undergone triple bypass heart surgery at age 59, hoping it would finally bring her blood pressure under control Instead, the issue persisted, affecting how she felt day to day and leaving her frustrated despite her efforts
After enrolling in a hypertension clinic and trying several medication adjustments without success, Kathy was referred to Dr. Rohit Amin, an interventional cardiologist with Ascension Sacred Heart Cardiovascular Specialists, who offered another option: renal denervation.
Read more...
Event Highlights
ESCAMBIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION Foundation
Dear ECMS Members,
ECMS Foundation Board Members
President: Ellen W McKnight, MD
Members at Large: Brett Parra, MD
Deborah Vigilione, MD Brian Kirby, MD Ben Abo, DO
Current ECMS President: Deanna Oleske, MD
As we move into spring, I'm excited to reflect on the momentum we've built and share what's ahead for the ECMS Foundation. I want to thank everyone who made 2025 such a remarkable year for our organization. Your support has fueled tremendous growth, and I'm thrilled to report that all of our community programs are thriving and stronger than ever.
I'm especially pleased to share that the J Hugh and Earle W. Fellows Foundation has renewed their funding for our Go Seniors! Transportation Program, allowing us to continue providing vital medical transportation support to seniors in our community We're deeply grateful for their partnership and commitment to improving healthcare access in Northwest Florida.
This April promises to be especially dynamic for the Foundation. We're launching our spring online fundraising campaign to support our vital community programs, including the Go Seniors! Transportation Program, BP Cuff Program, and Physician Wellness Program. More details will be coming soon on how you can participate and spread the word
To our valued 1873 Society members – invitations are going out soon for an intimate 1873 Society Soiree in April! This special evening will bring together current members and select prospective supporters to celebrate the impact of sustained giving to our community programs. For the first time, we're welcoming non-ECMS community members who are committed to joining this giving circle. ECMS members who are seriously considering joining the 1873 Society through a $3,000 contribution should contact Laura at director@escambiacms.org so she can ensure you receive an invitation
In May, we're getting physical with physician wellness! Join us on May 14th in collaboration with an ECMS meeting at Portside Pickle as we promote our Physician Wellness Program in a whole new way. Whether you want to hit the courts for some pickleball or simply enjoy networking over great food and beverages, there's something for everyone. After all, physician wellness takes many forms – self-care, physical fitness, and mental health coaching –and we're committed to supporting all aspects of your wellbeing
Looking ahead to fall, please save the date for Wednesday, October 29th for our 3rd Annual Health Excellence Awards. Start thinking now about the outstanding healthcare professionals and initiatives you'd like to nominate –we can't wait to celebrate another year of excellence in our community.
Thank you to our dedicated ECMS Foundation Board Members for their continued commitment and vision, and to every member of our medical community who has contributed to our success Together, we're making a real difference in the health and wellbeing of Northwest Florida.
Here's to an outstanding 2026!
Ellen W McKnight, MD ECMS-Foundation President
Foundation
SERVING COMMUNITY SUPPORTING PHYSICIANS
Mission of the ECMS-Foundation:
The ECMS-Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing healthcare services to those most in need throughout Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties, while also supporting the physicians who service those populations.
OUR PROGRAM & SERVICES
Go Seniors! Transportation Program
Removing transportation barriers by providing free taxi vouchers to seniors aged 60+, ensuring they can access medical appointments, pharmacies, and lab services throughout Pensacola.
Physician Wellness Program
Providing ECMS members with confidential wellness coaching and support services, helping physicians maintain work-life balance and professional resilience.
BP Cuff Program
Providing free blood pressure monitors to underserved patients in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties, enabling home health monitoring and preventing cardiac emergencies
In a demanding profession like medicine, maintaining a healthy work-life balance and managing stress are vital.
The Physicians Wellness Program (PWP), an initiative by the ECMS Foundation, offers a supportive sanctuary for our members to receive confidential wellness coaching, addressing the unique challenges of their profession.
Program Highlights:
Why PWP? Physicians face unique pressures, from the complexities of healthcare delivery to personal life stresses.
PWP provides a safe, confidential space for doctors to seek guidance and support, enhancing their wellbeing in both personal and professional realms.
What PWP Offers:
Up to three free sessions per year with a licensed clinical psychologist.
The program covers issues such as career change decision making, burnout, work-related stress, family and relationship problems and more.
Complete Confidentiality:
Your privacy is our priority Sessions are entirely confidential with no insurance billing or member identification to ECMS.
How to Access:
To schedule an appointment, email patrick@psyassociates.com or call (850) 434-5033 x8, identifying yourself as an ECMS member.
For Whom:
Available to all active ECMS members and their relatives (attending with the member).
The PWP is your stepping stone to a healthier, more balanced life. Let's work together to navigate the challenges of the medical profession with resilience and effectiveness.
CONTACT INFO:
https://escambiacms.org/PhysicianWellness director@escambiacms.org 850-478-0706
HEALTHCARE CHAMPIONS
"Investing in the Foundation means investing in the health of our entire community - and supporting the physicians who serve it " , Ellen W McKnight, MD - ECMS Foundation President
1873 Society members provide foundational support for the organization and its community health programs including Go Seniors! Transportation, the BP Cuff Program and the Physician Wellness Program, serving both patients who need care and the physicians who provide it.
1873 SOCIETY MEMBERS
Michelle Brandhorst, M.D.
Joanne Bujnoski, D O
Hillary Hultstrand, M.D.
Jack Kotlarz, M.D.
Kurt Krueger, M.D.
Susan Laenger, M D
Bach-Uyen Le Thi, M.D.
Ken Long, M.D.
Ellen W. McKnight, M.D.
Jennifer Miley, M D
Brett Parra, M.D.
Jill Prafke, M.D.
Michael Riesberg, M.D.
Robert Sackheim, M D
J. Howell Tiller, M.D.
Steve Ziller, M.D
To join the 1873 Society, donate $3,000 to the Escambia County Medical Society Foundation, Inc.
2026 Health Excellence Awards
October 29, 2026
5:30pm
Cocktail Reception & Awards Ceremony
2025 Award Recipients
Workplace Health Vanguard Award - Nemours Children's Health
Clinical Excellence Award - Julie Smith, MA, CCC-SLP, HCA Florida West Hospital
Rising Care Award - Grace Sims, Vivid Pathology
Operations Excellence Award - Jessi Truett, PhD
Rising Impact Award - Andrea Wright, Baptist Neurosurgery Department
Heart of the Community Award - Carol "CiCi" Sekhon, MD, Gulf Coast Kids House & Sally Bergosh, Health and Hope Clinic
The ECMS Pinnacle Award - Brent Videau, MD, Baptist Heart & Vascular Institute
Thank you to our 2025 honorees for their dedication to healthcare excellence!
Through this celebration of excellence, the Health Excellence Awards generated vital funding for ECMS Foundation programs.
Nominations for 2026, opening soon!
BAPTISTHEALTHCARE
BaptistMedicalGroupWelcomesElliottSharon,M.D.
BaptistMedicalGroupwelcomesElliottSharon,M D ,toitsmultispecialtyphysiciannetwork Dr Sharonisboardcertifiedinfamily medicine and sees patients at Baptist Medical Group Primary Care – Nine Mile. With over 15 years of experience, Dr. Sharon earned his medical degree from Ross University and completed his family medicine residency at Spartanburg Medical Center. He isboardcertifiedbytheAmericanBoardofFamilyMedicineandcertifiedbytheAmericanAcademyofFamilyPhysicians.
JasonRocha,M.D.JoinsAndrewsInstitute
Andrews Institute welcomes board-certified orthopaedic surgeon Jason Rocha, M.D., to its orthopaedic trauma and fracture care team. His clinical interests include orthopaedic trauma, pelvic and complex fractures, malunions/nonunions, arthroplasty and periprostheticfractures.
Dr Rocha earned his medical degree from Florida State University and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Orlando RegionalHealthcare HehasservedasdirectoroforthopaedictraumaatBaptistHospitalandontheorthopedicleadershipcouncil at Andrews Institute. He is a retired U.S. Air Force surgical technician and board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
KevinFox,D.O.,JoinsAndrewsInstitute
Orthopaedic surgeon Kevin Fox, D.O., has joined the total joint replacement team at Andrews Institute, specializing in hip and knee conditions including total and reconstructive joint surgery. Dr. Fox earned his medical degree from Campbell University and completed his residency at the University of South Florida and hip and knee reconstruction fellowship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He served as chief resident and received the Dr. George Joseph Award for Excellence as the highest scoring resident on his orthopaedic training exam Dr Fox is board-eligible in orthopaedic surgery and holds memberships with the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics and American Osteopathic Association.
HCAFLORIDAWESTHOSPITAL
HCAFloridaWestHospitalNamedAmongTop50intheNationforCardiovascularCareforSecondYearinaRow.
For the second year in a row, HCA Florida West Hospital and HCA Florida West Cardiology Specialistshave joined an elite group of hospitals from across the nation by being namedone of the nation’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals by Premiere and Modern Healthcare,leadingprovidersofdata-drivenanalyticsandsolutionstoimprovethecostandqualityofhealthcare. ®
The 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals® study identifies U.S. hospitals that have achieved the highest performance on a balanced scorecard of performance measures The 2026 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals® provided higher quality clinical care and were identified as being more efficient than their peers If all U S hospitals’ cardiovascular service lines performed at the level of these study winners, more than 14,000 additional lives and over $1.5 billion could be saved, and over 28,600 additional bypass and angioplastypatientscouldbecomplication-free.
“ This recognition is only the starting point of what we are capable of and plan on achieving here at HCA Florida West in delivering the highest quality cardiology care to our patients and this region,” said Dr. David Woodard, Cardiologist for HCA Florida West Cardiology Specialists. “I see the dedication, skill, and compassion our team brings to every patient. Being recognized as one of thetop50hospitalsforheartcareisatruetestamenttotheunwaveringcommitmentofourentirecardiovascularteam.”
If you would like to learn more about cardiovascular services from one of the top 50 cardiovascular programs in the nation, we inviteyoutoreachouttotheHCAFloridaWestCardiologySpecialistsat850-969-7979
ASCENSIONSACREDHEART
Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola was identified as one of the nation’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals ® according to an independent quality analysis based on a balanced scorecard provided by Premier, Inc. and published by Modern Healthcare. SacredHeartisranked5thinthenation,andbestinFlorida,onthelistoftopteachinghospitalswithoutacardiovascularresidency program.Thecardiovascularprogramgradedout98.9percentileinoverallrankingsforbothClinicalPerformanceandOperational Performance. 348 hospitals were evaluated in this category, ranked on 21 different metrics. It is the ninth time Sacred Heart’s cardiovascularprogramhasbeenincludedintheseprestigiousrankings
StuderFamilyChildren’sHospitalatAscensionSacredHeartPensacolahostedthePediatricCriticalCareConferenceonTuesday, February 24. The first of its kind in Pensacola, this free, daylong training was geared toward EMS and Transport specialists from across the region. The multidisciplinary conference aims to enhance clinical skills and bring healthcare professionals up-to-date withthelatestinpediatricemergencyandacutecare,exploringessentialtopicslikerapidassessmentof“crashing”kids,pediatric drownings,andneonatalstabilization.
Studer Family Children’s Hospital is now using Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT) technology a breakthrough, minimally invasive treatment for children facing brain tumors or epilepsy. Unlike traditional surgery, LITT offers less pain, faster recovery times,andrenewedhopeforbrighter,healthierfutures.
TwonewPhysiciansjoinedtheAscensionSacredHeartteam:
ChristopherD Adams,MD,aboard-certified,experiencedrheumatologistand JonathanS.Stralka,MD,anobstetrician-gynecologist
MEDICALCENTERCLINIC
MedicalCenterClinicispleasedtoannouncetheadditionofTrevinThurman,MD,totheDepartmentofPainManagement.
Dr. Thurman earned his medical degree from the University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City, Utah. He completed his residencyinPhysicalMedicineandRehabilitationatHarvardMedicalSchoolinBoston,Massachusetts,andthen pursuedafellowshipinPainMedicineattheUniversityofWashingtoninSeattle,Washington
“We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Thurman to our Pain Management team,” said Jessica Barker, Practice Management. “His strong clinical background and specialized experience in interventional pain care will enhance our ability to provide comprehensivetreatmentoptionsandindividualizedcareforourpatients.”
ThePainManagementdepartmentatMedicalCenterClinicoffersafullspectrumoftreatmentsforpatientswithacuteandchronic pain. Through the expertise of a multidisciplinary team, Medical Center Clinic provides advanced, evidence-based therapies in a compassionateenvironmentdesignedtorestorefunctionandimprovequalityoflife.
Appointments with Dr Thurman can be scheduled by calling 850 474 8015 To learn more about Pain Management services at MedicalCenterClinic,pleasevisitMedicalCenterClinic.com.
Get Your Business in Front of 300+ Local Physicians!
Multiple advertising options available: Stand-alone ads
Sponsorship packages
Featured placements
Contact Laura Griffin today! director@escambiacms.org 850-478-0706
A Note from the Executive Director
What a strong start to 2026! Our membership continues to grow steadily, and I'm truly energized by the meaningful connections being made at our events and through our programs it's inspiring to see our community thrive
Speaking of membership I'm diligently working on our 2026-2027 printed directory, and I want to ensure everyone who should be included actually is. The original deadline was February 28th, but I've extended it to March 31st to give a few stragglers ample time to get caught up. If your dues expiration date is current, you're automatically in!
While you're at it, please take a moment to visit our online member directory at escambiacms.org/directory to verify that your information is accurate and up to date. I rely on you to keep your details current, so this is a perfect time to double-check your listing. This directory remains our most valuable networking tool, and I'd hate for anyone to have outdated contact information or miss out on being included
As we move into Spring, I’m excited about the programming and events ahead! Please take a moment to look at our calendar on the website at escambiacms.org/events, go ahead and RSVP and mark YOUR calendars! You won’t want to sit out these events!
Thank you for being part of a medical society that truly supports our physician community
Warmly, Laura Griffin
Executive Director, ECMS & ECMS Foundation
